Water-curable, silane modified alkyl acrylate copolymers and a process for the preparation thereof

Abstract

This invention relates to water-curable, silane modified copolymers of an alkyl acrylate and a monomer having the formula: <IMAGE> wherein X is hydrogen or chlorine and Y is chlorine, a phenyl radical or cyano. The water-curable, silane modified copolymers have enhanced properties which makes them suitable for use as extrudates, serving as jacketing and insulation about wire and cables.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A composition of matter comprising a silane of the formula: ##STR10## or a polysiloxane containing repeating units of the formula: ##STR11## wherein R 1  is a hydrocarbon radical, R is a hydrocarbon radical or an oxy substituted hydrocarbon radical, each V is hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical or a hydrolyzable group, Z is a hydrolyzable group, n is an integer having a value of 1 to 18 and x is an integer having a value of at least 2; a copolymer of an alkyl acrylate and a monomer having the formula: ##STR12## wherein X is hydrogen or chlorine, Y is chlorine, a phenyl radical or cyano; and an organo titanate. 
     
     
       2. A composition of matter comprising a silane of the formula: ##STR13## wherein R 1  is a hydrocarbon radical, R is a hydrocarbon radical or an oxy substituted hydrocarbon radical, each V is hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical or a hydrolyzable group, Z is a hydrolyzable group and n is an integer having a value of 1 to 18; a copolymer of an alkyl acrylate and a monomer having the formula: ##STR14## wherein X is hydrogen or chlorine, Y is chlorine, a phenyl radical or cyano; and an organo titanate. 
     
     
       3. A composition of matter comprising a polysiloxane containing repeating units of the formula: ##STR15## wherein R is a hydrocarbon radical or an oxy substituted hydrocarbon radical, each V is hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical or a hydrolyzable group, Z is a hydrolyzable group, n is an integer having a value of 1 to 18 and x is an integer having a value of at least 2; a copolymer of an alkyl acrylate and a monomer having the formula: ##STR16## wherein X is hydrogen or chlorine and Y is chlorine, a phenyl radical or cyano; and an organo titanate. 
     
     
       4. A composition of matter as defined in claim 3 wherein x is an integer having a value of 2 to 1000. 
     
     
       5. A composition of matter as defined in claim 3 wherein x is an integer having a value of 5 to 25. 
     
     
       6. A composition of matter as defined in claim 3 wherein R is an alkylene radical, each V is an alkoxy radical, Z is an alkoxy radical and the organo titanate has the formula:   Ti(OR.sup.2).sub.4     wherein each R 2  is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical having one to 18 carbon atoms provided that at least one R 2  is a hydrocarbon radical.   
     
     
       7. A composition of matter as defined in claim 3 wherein the said copolymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and ethyl acrylate and said polysiloxane is derived from acetoxyethyltrimethoxy silane. 
     
     
       8. A composition of matter as defined in claim 3 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinylidene chloride and ethyl acrylate and said polysiloxane is derived from acetoxyethyltrimethoxy silane. 
     
     
       9. A composition of matter as defined in claim 3 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of acrylonitrile and ethyl acrylate and said polysiloxane is derived from acetoxyethyltrimethoxy silane. 
     
     
       10. A composition of matter as defined in claim 3 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and said polysiloxane is derived from acetoxyethyltrimethoxy silane. 
     
     
       11. A composition of matter as defined in claim 3 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate and said polysiloxane is derived from acetoxyethyltrimethoxy silane. 
     
     
       12. A composition of matter as defined in claim 3 wherein said organo titanate is tetraisopropyl titanate. 
     
     
       13. A water-curable, silane modified copolymer of an alkyl acrylate and a monomer of the formula: ##STR17## wherein X is hydrogen or chlorine and Y is chlorine, a phenyl radical or cyano, obtained from a composition defined in claim 1. 
     
     
       14. A water-curable, silane modified copolymer of an ethyl or butyl acrylate and a monomer of the formula: ##STR18## wherein X is hydrogen or chlorine and Y is chlorine, a phenyl radical or cyano, obtained from a composition defined in claim 1. 
     
     
       15. A water-curable, silane modified copolymer as defined in claim 13 wherein said alkyl acrylate is ethyl acrylate or methyl acrylate. 
     
     
       16. A water-curable, silane modified copolymer as defined in claim 13 wherein said alkyl acrylate is butyl acrylate. 
     
     
       17. A water-curable, silane modified copolymer as defined in claim 13 wherein said alkyl acrylate is 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate. 
     
     
       18. A water-curable silane modified copolymer as defined in claim 13 or 14 wherein said silane is derived from acetoxyethyltrimethoxy silane. 
     
     
       19. A water-curable, silane modified copolymer as defined in claim 13 or 14 wherein said monomer is vinyl chloride. 
     
     
       20. A water-curable, silane modified copolymer as defined in claim 13 or 14 wherein said monomer is styrene. 
     
     
       21. A water-curable, silane modified copolymer as defined in claim 13 or 14 wherein said monomer is acrylonitrile. 
     
     
       22. A water-curable, silane modified copolymer as defined in claim 13 or 14 wherein said monomer is a mixture of vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile. 
     
     
       23. A water-curable, silane modified copolymer as defined in claim 13 or 14 wherein said monomer is vinylidene chloride. 
     
     
       24. A process of producing a water-curable, silane modified alkyl acrylate copolymer which comprises reacting a mixture containing a silane of the formula: ##STR19## or a polysiloxane derived from said monomer wherein R 1  is a hydrocarbon radical, R is a hydrocarbon radical or oxy substituted hydrocarbon radical, each V is hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical or a hydrolyzable group, Z is a hydrolyzable group, n is an integer having a value of 1 to 18; a copolymer of an alkyl acrylate and a monomer having the formula: ##STR20## wherein X is hydrogen or chlorine, Y is chlorine, a phenyl radical or cyano, and an organo titanate. 
     
     
       25. The crosslinked product of the silane modified copolymer of claim 13. 
     
     
       26. An electrical conductor having as a jacketing or insulation thereabout the silane modified copolymer or the crosslinked product of the silane modified copolymer defined in claim 13. 
     
     
       27. A process of producing a water-curable, silane modified alkyl acrylate copolymer which comprises reacting a mixture containing a polysiloxane containing repeating units of the formula: ##STR21## wherein R is a hydrocarbon radical or an oxy substituted hydrocarbon radical, each V is hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical or a hydrolyzable group, Z is a hydrolyzable group, n is an integer having a value of 1 to 18 and x is an integer having a value of at least 2; a copolymer of an alkyl acrylate ##STR22## wherein X is a hydrogen or chlorine and Y is chlorine, a phenyl radical or cyano; and an organo titanate. 
     
     
       28. A composition of matter as defined in claim 3 wherein said copolymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile and butyl acrylate and said polysiloxane is derived from acetoxyethyltrimethoxy silane.